Ganderbal, Dec 30: With moderate to heavy snowfall forecast from December 30 to January 1, the Ganderbal district administration has stepped up preparations, directing all concerned departments to keep men and machinery in readiness to ensure uninterrupted essential services.
Executive Engineer, R&B Division Ganderbal, Arif Iqbal, said the department has been placed on high alert in view of the weather advisory.
“Our men and machinery have been kept on standby. The district administration, including the Deputy Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, has been reviewing the preparedness. We have around 510 kilometres of road length across about 18 stations in the district to maintain during snowfall,” he said.
The PMGSY Division Ganderbal has also finalised its snow clearance strategy and declared full preparedness to deal with snowfall. The plan covers a total road network of 92 roads measuring 319.06 kilometres across Ganderbal district and parts of Srinagar, with operations to be carried out in coordination with the Mechanical Engineering Department.
Officials said 77 roads spanning 267.19 km in Ganderbal district and 15 roads measuring 51.87 km in Srinagar district have been identified for snow clearance. Of the total network, 36 roads covering 158.93 km will be cleared by the Mechanical Division, while 56 roads measuring 160.13 km will be handled by the PMGSY Division Ganderbal. “Men and machinery have been mobilised and will remain stationed at critical points to ensure a timely response,” an official said, adding that priority will be given to routes leading to major habitations, hospitals, schools and other essential service locations.
Meanwhile, the district administration has issued an advisory urging people to avoid movement in avalanche- and landslide-prone areas during the forecast period. The advisory follows weather predictions of moderate to heavy snowfall over parts of north and central Kashmir.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Jatin Kishore chaired a meeting of district and sectoral officers to review winter preparedness. The meeting assessed the availability of manpower and snow clearance machinery, stock position of essential commodities and action plans prepared by various departments to prevent disruption of road connectivity and services during winter.
The Deputy Commissioner directed departments, including R&B, Mechanical, BRO, PMGSY and Municipal Committee Ganderbal to ensure coordinated deployment of snow clearance machinery on main, internal and far-flung roads, and to maintain smooth power, water supply and other essential services during the winter season.